•To parley govs’ forum on multiple taxes, right of way
From Adetutu Folasade-Koyi, Abuja
Executive Vice President of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Aminu Maida, has said there are no unregistered SIM cards in Nigeria.
He disclosed this at an interactive parley with media executives in Abuja, yesterday.
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Maida noted that although there were no unregistered SIM cards across the telecommunications networks, registered SIMs could be used by individuals other than the registrants.
“There are no more unregistered sims operating at the networks. We should understand that numbers are also recycled, that is why, if your line is not active after a year, it is reassigned to other people. Also, remember that people die and people migrate, so the numbers are recycled. When there’s a recycling event, we let people know; whether it is in banking or other sectors.
“I can authoritatively say that there’s no unregistered SIM operating in the network. Now, there might be issues whereby a registered SIM is being used by somebody who is not the person that registered the SIM.
“I think this is where all of us are guilty, because I recall when we had a session at the National Assembly and we were explaining some of these things to them.
“We told them that with the way things are working now, if you send your driver or your househelp to go and register a SIM simply because you don’t want your identity to be known, you are actually committing a crime.
“So, are all SIMs registered? Yes. Are all SIMs being used by the person who registered them? That I cannot say 100 percent yes and that is not something that the NCC can control.
Maida told newsmen that the NCC was working on a platform, in collaboration with other sector regulators, whereby whenever these numbers are recycled, the information is made available to other sector regulators.
He also added that the said the phone numbers are recycled due to limited availability, with inactive lines becoming candidates for reassignment after a year.
He, however, noted that certain numbers are considered premium and sought after, particularly those with desirable sequences or original allocations.
“If they’re not being used, they are recycled. If a true-caller has linked it to somebody’s name, the link could still be there, but it has been assigned to somebody else,” he said. He also disclosed that there were plans to meet with the state governments as stakeholders on multiple taxes and right of way for the telecommunications companies.
“We’ve met with 31 state attorneys general and chairmen of the tax committees. We’ve discussed it with the government.
“In October, I am meeting with the Director General of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum to resolve issues and chart a way because the sub nationals are important and it’s a win-win for everybody.”
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